Pats host Warriors to open WHL in 30 schedule

By Robert Murray January 20, 2018

After going 4-0-1-0 in their past five games, there’s no doubt the Regina Pats are riding high. They’re back in the Eastern Conference playoff race and have significantly improved their likelihood of catching and overtaking the Brandon Wheat Kings for third in the East Division.

When they take to the ice Saturday on WHL in 30 action, the Pats, winners of five of their last seven games against divisional opponents, will face one of their biggest challenges of the 2018 calendar year in the Moose Jaw Warriors.

From the Warriors’ perspective, they certainly won’t take the Pats lightly after two of the first three games in the season series being decided by a single goal, but the Warriors are dealing from a position of power. Their high-octane offence has been averaging six goals per game since the start of the 2018 calendar year.

Stat attack:

Moose Jaw Warriors

With a 36-7-1-2 (3-0-0-0 in season series vs. Regina) record, the Moose Jaw Warriors own the best record in the WHL, leading the Eastern Conference and East Divisions as well. The team is on pace to win 58 games, which would easily surpass their franchise record of 45 victories in the 2011-12 WHL regular season.

Three of the top 10 players in the WHL scoring race can be found on the Warriors’ roster. Forward Brayden Burke (21G-68A-89 points) leads the league in power play assists. His teammate and San Jose Sharks prospect Jayden Halbgewachs (48G-39A-87 points) leads the WHL in goals and also leads the league in power-play goals with 16.

Goaltender Brody Willms is four wins away from becoming the third Warriors goaltender since the 2011-12 season to record 30 wins in a season. The list includes Luke Siemens and Zach Sawchenko.

While the Warriors lead the league in most statistical categories, the one area they have yet to succeed in is the shootout, losing their first two attempts and entering play this weekend as one of six teams yet to win a shootout this season. The Regina Pats are also on this list, but have yet to play in a shootout this season.

This season, the Warriors have been involved in 17 one-goal games, compiling a record of 9-5-1-2.

The last Moose Jaw Warrior to lead the WHL in scoring was Troy Brouwer, who compiled 102 points (49G-53A) in 72 games during the 2005-06 season.

#WHLin30 encore presentation & social event debuts Saturday on WHL YouTube, following initial airing on Shaw!

⏰ 12:30pm MT
???? https://t.co/KwSl3Mq07V pic.twitter.com/j5orj22VvI

— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 20, 2018

Regina Pats

In one-goal games this season, the Pats didn’t lose in regulation until a Nov. 10 loss to the Warriors. Overall this season, they’re 12-2-4-0 in one-goal games.

They may not be the best team in the league when it comes to penalty killing, but the Pats have still found ways to be effective while down a man, scoring 13 short-handed goals which is the third-best figure in the league this season. The Warriors have one short-handed goal this season, coming from the stick of Halbgewachs.

With a 24-19-4-0 record this year (0-2-1-0 against Moose Jaw) the Pats have five opportunities left to beat their Trans-Canada rivals this year. The last time the Pats failed to beat the Warriors in regulation at least once during the regular season was the 2010-11 season when they won once in the overtime over the course of their eight-game season series.

Captain and Anaheim Ducks prospect Sam Steel is five points away from reaching 300 for his WHL career. He’s also 11 assists shy of 200 for his WHL career. Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jake Leschyshyn is eight goals away from 50 for his WHL career, three assists away from his 50th WHL assist and 11 points shy of 100 for his WHL career.

Friday’s game against the Warriors will mark the 100th WHL game of Robbie Holmes’ career. Colorado Avalanche prospect Nick Henry played in his 100th career WHL game Wednesday and also recently recorded his 100th career WHL point. Edmonton Oilers prospect Cameron Hebig is four points shy of 200 for his WHL career and nine games away from playing in the 250th WHL game of his career.